Tapa-e Asmai (TV Hill)

Tapa-e Asmai, widely known as TV Hill, is a ridge in central Kabul on Koh-e Asmai, crowned by the city's television mast. It is regarded as the best place from which to see the whole Kabul basin, with the Old City, the river, the rows of hillside houses and the snow-capped Hindu Kush ranges all visible in clear weather. Visitors typically reach the foot of the hill by taxi and walk up the paths and tracks, a climb that takes about 30 to 45 minutes depending on pace and conditions. The slope is steep and dusty in places, with loose stones, and the summit is an open, windswept area around the mast. The reward is a panoramic outlook that stretches in every direction, and photographers favour sunrise and sunset for the light on the mountains and city. The hill is also a place where local people walk and exercise, and the foot of Asmai sits close to the Ziyarat-e Sakhi shrine and the surrounding neighbourhoods. A visit takes about one to one and a half hours in total. The ridge is open during daylight hours and there is no entrance fee. Visitors should carry water, wear sturdy shoes and avoid the hill in poor weather or after dark. Security around the mast can lead to restrictions on photography of the installation itself, so the views are better photographed than the equipment. A taxi to the foot of the hill costs roughly 100 to 150 AFN (approx $1.50-2). Crowds are light on weekdays and heavier at weekends and on festival days such as Nowruz, when many families climb the hill.